Spacer for surgical cast

ABSTRACT

A spacer, for use in forming a surgical cast of hardenable material, consisting of an elongated, laterally arcuate central rib with flanges projecting outwardly from the lateral edges of the central rib and tapering to their free edges. The spacer is made of form-retaining, severable material. A cast is made by using one or more slabs of malleable, hardenable material having its lateral edges overlying the flanges of one or more spacers and contiguous with the central rib.

United States Patent Whyte Feb. 22, 1972 [54] SPACER FOR SURGICAL CAST OTHER PUBLICATIONS Inventor: Francis y 2 Cascade Drive, Ha ax, Methode 'zum Schnellen von Gipsverbanden" by Carl Fer- Nova Scotia, Canada vers, Zentrablatt fur Chirurgie, 1933, Nrio pp. 560- 562. [22] Filed: June 1, 1970 Method of Applying Plaster Casts by W. Wilson The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery, 1941, pp. 184- 186. [21] Appl. No.: 41,830

Primary Examiner-Richard A. Gaudet 52 us. Cl. ..128/91 R Assismm Yasko 51 im. Cl. ..A61f 5/04 Attorney-16mm Henley [58] Field ofSearch.... ..l28/91,90,91 A

[57] ABSTRACT [56] References Clted A spacer, for use in forming a surgical cast of hardenable UNITED STATES PATENTS material, consisting of an elongated, laterally arcuate central rib with flanges projecting outwardly from the lateral edges of 2,230,781 2/1941 Longfellow 128/91 the central rib and tapering to their free edges The Spacer is 2206339 7/1940 Ulman 128/91 made of form-retaining, severable material. A cast is made by gala? 128/91 using one or more slabs of malleable, hardenable material having its lateral edges overlying the flanges of one or more FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS spacers and contiguous with the central rib. 587,069 6/1933 Germany l 28/9l 2 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures mismwrsaez m2 I 3.643.657

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ononaaoooocoqooaoee INVENTOR.

FRANCIS WHYTE PAIENTEDFB22 I972 3. 643.657

' sumzurz INVENTOR.

FRANCIS WHYTE SPACER FOR SURGICAL CAST The present invention relates to a spacer for a surgical cast of the type using plaster of paris or similar hardenable material.

' The most common type of surgical cast used to immobilize a limb or other body portion, for instance in setting a bone fracture, is a plaster cast. Commonly a cotton bandage impregnated with plaster of paris is used to form the cast, the

bandage being immersed in water, wrapped in multiple layers about the limb, and allowed to set. The disadvantage of such casts is that they shrink as they set and may inhibit the circulation of blood in the limb. Also, they are difficult to remove after use and require a skilled handling of a special type of saw. An alternate form of surgical cast employs two slabs made up of multilayered plaster of paris bandages, which are molded onto the limb to form a circumferential cast, the resultant arcuate slabs being held on the limb by an overlaid winding of plaster of paris bandage. When plaster of slabs are used the lateral edges of the slabs, when they harden, tend to dig into the limb. Slab casts also have more rigidity than casts using a bandage winding.

The present invention overcomes these various disadvantages by providing a method and a device for forming a surgical cast which is less inhibitive of circulation in the limb on which the cast is formed and which is more easily removable using an ordinary cutting instrument.

An example embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a view in perspective showing a spacer unit and its relationship with a lower leg on which the unit is to be applied;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 showing the spacer unit applied to the leg.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing a pair of plaster of paris slabs applied to the leg between the spacers of the unit;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 showing the completed surgical cast;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional taken along the line 5-5 of FIG.

4; and

' FIG. 6 is a fragmentary perspective view of a spacer of the unit as shown in FIGS. 1 to 5.

The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings consists of a pair of spacers 10 connected together by a sheet of cloth 11 to form a spacer unit 12. As seen more particularly in FIG. 6 of the drawings, each spacer 10 consists of a strip of form-retaining material having a longitudinal, laterally arcuate central rib 13 and a pair of flanges 14, one flange projecting outwardly from each lateral edge 15 of the central rib and extending the length of the spacer. Upper side 16 and underside 17 of each flange 14 converge to meet at an outer, free edge 18 along the flange, giving the flange a taper. Underside 17 of each flange 14 is flat and carries a pad 19 of resilient material fixed to it. Preferably the free surface 20 of each pad 19 carries an adhesive which is protected by a removable cover 21. An edge of cloth sheet 11 is secured to spacer 10 by sandwiching it between pad 19 and underside 17 of flange 14.

Central rib 13 of spacer 10 is laterally curved to form an are which is preferably greater than 180 whereby flanges 14 of each spacer 10 form an obtuse angle between them (preferably about 135). Rib 13 is perforated axially along its crown 22 with spaced apertures 23. Underside 17 of each flange 14 is curved where it meets lateral edge 15 of central rib 13 to form a smooth surface.

Cloth sheet 11, attached to a pair of spacers 10, is of a length and width such that, with the cloth sheet lying against the limb, it locates the two spacers on opposite sides of a limb to be encased in a cast.

Spacer 10 is constructed of form-retaining severable material such as polyethylene, which enables the spacer to be severed along its crown 22 through the row of apertures 23. Also, by using plastic material to form spacers 17 they may be manufactured by extrusion and cut to suitable lengths approximating the length of the type of limb to be set. Pads 19 may be formed of any resilient material such as orthopedic felt. Cloth 11 may be of any suitable loosely woven, flexible sheet material, such as cheesecloth.

In the example embodiment, a surgical cast 30 is formed on a persons lower limb 31 as shown in the FIGS. 1 to 5 of the drawings. To commence formation of cast 30, protective covers 21 are peeled from pads 19 of a suitable dimensioned spacer unit 12 and the unit is then applied to limb 31 by locating spacers 10 to extend distally along opposite sides of the limb with cloth 11 extending around the posterior aspect of the limb and in contact with it. Pads 21 are brought into contact with, and adhering to, the skin. The obtuse angle between flanges 14 allows them to lie flat against the curved surface of limb 31. A pair of. slabs 32, preformed of multiple layers of plaster of paris bandage, are suitably cut and immersed in water. Being malleable by saturation, slabs 32 can be moulded to the contour of limb 31. One slab 32a is then applied to the posterior aspect of the limb and in contact with cloth 11. The lateral edges 33 of slab 32a abut against one side of each central rib 13 of the two spacers 10. One end of slab 32a is positioned to be coterminous with the upper ends of the spacers and the other end portion of the slab is moulded around the heel to terminate at the base of the toes of the foot. A second saturated slab 32b is appliedto the anterior aspect of limb 31, in like manner, having its lateral edges 33 abut central ribs 13 of spacers l0 and moulded over the top of the foot and overlapping the edges. of slab 32a. This stage in the formation of cast 30 is shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Finally, as seen in FIGS. 4 and 5 of the drawings, a saturated plaster of paris bandage is wrapped around slabs 32 and spacers 10 to provide an overlying layer 34 which renders cast 30 a cohesive unit. Cast 30 is then allowed to set.

To facilitate removal of cast 30, a cutting instrument such as a pair of surgical scissors 40 is used as shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings. One blade of scissors 40 is inserted into an end opening of the passage formed by one of spacers 10 lying against limb 31 and rib 13 is cut along its crown 22 through the row of apertures 23. When cast 30 has been severed longitudinally in this manner it may be separated from limb 31.

It will be appreciated that lateral edges 33 of slabs 32, lying on flanges 14 of spacers l0, enable the flanges to protect limb 31 from the rough edges of the slabs, and the flanges also prevent the lateral edges of central rib 13 from pressing against the limb. Flanges 14 also increase the rigidity of cast 30 and, as yet another advantage, they allow the spacer to be held in place by the slabs while the cast is being formed. Of course spacer 10 itself allows the cast to be easily severed for removal, as well as releasing pressure along the lateral aspect of the limb, where veins lie close to the skin. Also, spacer 10 increases the strength of the cast. Pads 19, besides holding cloth 1! on spacers 10, act to spread the pressure adjacent the lateral edges 33 of slabs 32 in the area of spacers 10 and also prevent the tapered edges of flange 14 from rolling and forming a ridge under the cast. Cloth 11 is useful in maintaining the proper distance between spacers 10 for standard width of slab 32.

I claim:

1. A spacer unit for use with plaster of paris impregnated bandage material to form a surgical cast, comprising:

a pair of spacers each having a longitudinal, laterally arcuate central rib and a pair of flanges extending outwardly one from each lateral edge of each rib the length thereof, each flange being tapered towards its free edge;

a sheet of loosely woven cloth fixed at its lateral edges on one flange of each spacer, the cloth being of asize to locate the spacers on opposite sides of the body portion when the sheet is laid against the body portion.

2. A surgical cast for immobilizing a body portion, comprising a pair of spacers each having a longitudinal, laterally arcuate central rib and a flange extending outwardly from each lateral edge thereof, a sheet of loosely woven cloth material interconnecting one flange of each spacer, the sheet of cloth being of a sizeadapted to locate the spacers distally on opposite sides of the body portion, a pair of slabs of plaster of parisimpregnated bandage material arcuately contoured and of a size adapted to be applied one to each aspect of the body portion whereby the lateral edges of each slab overly the adjacent flanges of the spacers and are contiguous with the central ribs of the spacers, and an overlying layer of plaster of 5 paris bandage, the slab and overlying layer being set. 

1. A spacer unit for use with plaster of paris impregnated bandage material to form a surgical cast, comprising: a pair of spacers each having a longitudinal, laterally arcuate central rib and a pair of flanges extending outwardly one from each lateral edge of each rib the length thereof, each flange being tapered towards its free edge; a sheet of loosely woven cloth fixed at its lateral edges on one flange of each spacer, the cloth being of a size to locate the spacers on opposite sides of the body portion when the sheet is laid against the body portion.
 2. A surgical cast for immobilizing a body portion, comprising a pair of spacers each having a longitudinal, laterally arcuate central rib and a flange extending outwardly from each lateral edge thereof, a sheet of loosely woven cloth material interconnecting one flange of each spacer, the sheet of cloth being of a size adapted to locate the spacers distally on opposite sides of the body portion, a pair of slabs of plaster of paris impregnated bandage material arcuately contoured and of a size adapted to be applied one to each aspect of the body portion whereby the lateral edges of each slab overly the adjacent flanges of the spacers and are contiguous with the central ribs of the spacers, and an overlying layer of plaster of paris bandage, the slab and overlying layer being set. 